John Block, representative for New Mexico’s House District 51, announced that the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee (CPAC) voted to table a bill aimed at increasing sentences for violent juvenile offenders convicted of murder and other serious crimes. He made this statement in a March 6 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Democrats in the NM House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, on a party-line 4-2 vote, move to table a bill (HB134) by Representatives Nicole Chavez and Andrea Reeb increasing sentences for violent juvenile offenders who murder, forever disable people, and other heinous crimes," said Block, State Representative. "Despite evidence showing that it works, Dems rejected evidence-based approaches and instead voted in favor of horrible criminals. Not shocking for this God-forsaken committee. Rep. Lord and I voted AGAINST TABLING THE BILL."

According to Block, House Bill 134 was tabled by the committee. The bill sought to expand definitions related to "youthful offender" and "serial youthful offender," facilitate transportation to district court when necessary, and require segregation of serious youthful offenders from adult inmates. It also proposed transferring children to adult facilities at age 18, granting courts more discretion for electronic detention hearings, and allowing courts to extend judgments until a child's 25th birthday. Delinquent acts refer to offenses committed by a child that would be considered crimes if committed by an adult.

Screenshot of State Representative John Block's March 6 post on X | X

House Bill 134 was sponsored by Representatives Cynthia Borrego, Nicole Chavez, Art De La Cruz, and Andrea Reeb. On March 6, the CPAC approved a substitute bill but then voted 4-2 to table it. Representatives Block and Lord opposed tabling the bill, while Chair Joanne J. Ferrary and Representatives Romero, Rubio, and Thomson supported tabling the substitute bill.

The bill has faced opposition from various quarters. Denali Wilson, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico, criticized the bill in a January article from the New Mexico Political Report. Wilson said it would fundamentally alter how New Mexico deals with juvenile crime and could lead to over-incarceration among young people of color. She described it as a "backwards approach to juvenile violent crime."

State Representative John Block is a lifelong resident of New Mexico with experience as a staffer at the New Mexico Legislature and roles at Chevron and Americans United For Life. He holds degrees from Rutgers University and Eastern New Mexico University.